Christmas in Kemi 2010
4 days / 3 nights, Kemi - Husky Safari - Reindeer Sledding - Rovaniemi - Santa Village | Our specially designed Christmas Program brings you to the heart of Finnish Lapland to Kemi, Rovaniemi and Santa Village. An action-packed itinerary, offering Lappish activities and snowy adventures for the entire family: Visit a Husky farm and drive your own sled, enjoy Reindeer a safari and earn your own reindeer driving permit.
Cross the Arctic Circle to Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland, a city of snow and home of Santa. It is also called the Christmas City. Some of the famous highlights are the Church, the Arktikum Museum, Santa Claus Village in the heart of the Arctic Circle. Participate in the ceremony of crossing the Arctic Circle, meet Santa at his office and leave your Christmas greetings with the elves at Santa Claus' spectacular Main Post Office, located in Santa Village. Nature, culture, and Christmas weave their spell over you - feel the magic and joy of Christmas wherever you go.
Kemi/Rovaniemi - show on Google Maps ™
| Departure | Departure: December 23rd - December 26th, 2010 |
| Price | Hotel Merihovi $1,105 per person in double room $1,305 single room $625 Child 2-11 yrs. in extra bed in parents room Hotel Cumulus $1,125 Per person in double room $1,310 Single room $695 Child 2-11 yrs. in extra bed in parents room |
| Included | Round trip transfers Kemi Airport / Hotel / Kemi Airport 3 nights accommodations in Hotel Cumulus Kemi or Hotel Merihovi Use of hotel sauna daily in the afternoon (plus indoor swimming pool in Hotel Cumulus) Traditional Finnish breakfast buffet daily Full board from dinner on December 23 until breakfast on December 26 Dinners are either 3-course buffet meals or served meals, including coffee or tea Full-day coach excursion to Husky Farm and Ranua Wildlife Park on December 24, including a 20-minute dogsled ride (children must be over 4 years old), hot beverage Guided walking tour of the Arctic Zoo Christmas Eve entertainment: gingerbread cookie baking, tree decoration, visit by Santa and Rudolf, Christmas gift, music 8-hour coach excursion to the Arctic Circle and Rovaniemi on December 25 Visit to Reindeer Farm for Arctic Circle Ceremony Reindeer driving test Visit to Santa Claus Village Thermal outfits during the program (overalls, boots and socks, balaclava and mittens) Guiding in English during the excursions and activities Tax and service fees |
| Not Included | International airfare & Airport taxes Domestic flights Helsinki - Kemi - Helsinki Gratuities Personal insurance / personal items Alcoholic beverages $25 Service fee |
| Please Note | Minimum of 2 participants required for the tour to be operated. This is a non-escorted tour to Lapland. Excursions are guided. Early booking is recommended. Subject to availability! Highlights in Kemi: LumiLinna SnowCastle Santa's info |
| Tour Options | Additional nights Kemi and/or Helsinki Sampo Icebreaker Safari Snowmobile Safari with Ice fishing In Search of Aurora Borealis Airfare Helsinki Kemi - Helsinki, please request |
Day 1 ARRIVAL KEMI (D) Wednesday, December 23
Individual arrival at Kemi Airport. Transfer to Hotel Merihovi or Hotel Cumulus Kemi for dinner and overnight. Meals: Dinner
Day 2 HUSKY SAFARI - RANUA WILDLIFE PARK (B, D) Thursday, December 24
Finnish buffet breakfast is served in the hotel. Then get prepared for a full-day excursion – a genuine "animal safari day". Board the coach for a short trip to a local Husky Farm where Mrs. Ulla and her daughter Mrs. Paula with her family live - together with their Siberian huskies. There are Santa's helpers at the farm, big and small, as well as four-legged ones! Learn about the training and life of Siberian huskies, how they spend their Christmas, and try your hand at dog sledding, too. After learning about sled control you'll take off on an exhilarating ride, two persons sharing one dog team (kids travel in parents' sleds), taking turns as a "musher". Enjoy a cup of coffee or berry juice in a "kota" teepee. The next destination is Ranua Wildlife Park, the 1.5 hour coach ride through Lapland's countryside. Upon arrival at the wildlife park you'll enjoy a buffet lunch in the park's restaurant. Participate in a guided walking tour through the park, seeing Nordic and arctic animals, such as polar bears, brown bears, lynx and wolves, in their natural environment. You can also take a moment for last-minute Christmas shopping at the souvenir and candy shops in the park. CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATION Enjoy a mug of the traditional Christmas drink "glögg" and gingerbread cookies while the Christmas tree is decorated in the hotel restaurant later in the day. A special Christmas buffet dinner, featuring Finnish specialties, is served in the hotel restaurant. Santa Claus, together with Rudolf, of course, will visit to greet everyone - and he brings a gift to all guests, adults and children alike. Meals: breakfast, dinner
Hotel Merihovi or Hotel Cumulus Kemi
Day 3 ARCTIC CIRCLE - ROVANIEMI - SANTA VILLAGE (B, L, D) Friday, December 25
Enjoy breakfast this morning and join the locals in Kemi Church for Christmas morning church service. Today enjoy an excursion to the Arctic Circle. The coach ride from Kemi takes ca. 1.5 hours. Visit Santa Claus Village where you'll have a chance to meet Santa himself along with his elves. See Santa's, office, mail your Santa letter from his post office, or browse through the shopping gallery. Lunch is served in a local restaurant in Rovaniemi. Back to Kemi in late afternoon. En route say hello to reindeer and their herders at a local reindeer farm, where you'll learn about reindeer husbandry and Lappish culture. Take a ride in a reindeer-pulled sleigh, thus earning your very own international "reindeer driving permit". Attend a special Lappish ceremony of Crossing the Arctic Circle. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Kemi. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 KEMI DEPARTURE (B) Saturday, December 26
After breakfast this morning it's time to say goodbye to Kemi and transfer to the Airport for departure flight.
OPTIONAL: Spend an extra night in Kemi and participate in a unique winter adventure: a voyage through the ice! Transfer by coach to the Port of Kemi where Icebreaker Sampo is waiting for you. During the 4-hour voyage onboard this famous vessel you'll tour the entire ship from top to bottom and enjoy lunch in the ship's cozy restaurant. Adults participate in an arctic swim dressed in special survival suits, and kids explore the ship with the help of the crew. The Captain hands a diploma to all passengers at the end of the cruise. Back at the hotel in late afternoon. Snowmobiling is Laplanders' favorite outdoor activity and you can book an optional snowmobile trip with us on an extra day, in the evening of your arrival day or the morning of your departure day. Advance reservations are necessary for all optional activities.
Meals: breakfast, dinner
Snowmobiling is Laplander's favorite outdoor activity. You might book an optional snowmobile safari for the evening of your arrival day, the morning of your departure day, or book an extra day with us.